Materials Manager (REMOTE)

Position Description

While Category Managers will be responsible for developing and driving Category strategy in line with Procurement Organization objectives, our Material Specialists will report to a Category Manager and support functional partners in managing total spend, vendor relations and procurement of products and services to meet requirements.

Responsibilities

• Strategically manage and support the spend subcategories: Network Equipment & Materials under Network Operations and Construction

• Identify and realize significant cost savings from assigned categories

• Oversee development of strategic plans for management of all vendors in assigned categories

• Coordinate development of Strategic Plans for management of all vendors in assigned categories

• Recommended targets for contract type, cost savings, service levels and vendor management approach

• Recommended resource allocations across procurement projects and initiatives based on strategic plan priorities

• Coordinate development of spend category specific plans. These plans will serve as a primary input into Procurement annual budget planning and KPIs.

• Coordinate deployment and directed support of analysts and specialists to support strategic analysis and coordinate initiatives

• Communicate Procurement performance to key internal customers

• Actively manage all stages of strategic sourcing related to assigned categories:

  • Conduct spend analysis

  • Understand business requirements

  • Analyze supply markets and evaluate vendor risk

  • Assess and mitigate supply chain disruptions

  • Develop and execute competitive bidding schedule

  • Manage end-to-end RFP/vendor selection process and make recommendations for business award

  • Conduct periodic business review and drive continuous improvement in supply base

  • Manage vendor performance management (service level, quality, cost, delivery)

• Identify and report gaps to Procurement Lead and relevant Functional Team Leads in current process, standards, systems, tools and best practices that Procurement Support functions can support

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree - Business, Finance or related field

• Minimum two (2) years relevant industry experience in strategic sourcing, supply chain management and vendor relationship management

• Experience from Telco or related Industry, preferred

• Category experience with assigned spend categories, preferred

• Line experience and training with a major firm with a significant sourcing practice, preferred

• Experience with management and selection of vendors

• Certifications in disciplines such as Procurement, contract review and management or Operational Planning, preferred

• Strategic sourcing experience and capabilities:

  • Services spend management

  • RFP development and selection process

  • Vendor negotiations

  • Vendor management

• Results-driven mindset and capabilities, adept at resource prioritization, target setting, budgeting and business case development

• Excellent project management skills to manage strategy development and execution across multiple service providers and site locations

• Motivated, high-energy and self-starter business mindset; proven change agent with excellent facilitation and problem-solving skills

• Cross-functional teams experience and capabilities:

  • Experience working in and driving results in cross-functional teams, as they will regularly interface with site-level purchasing teams and internal customers to drive national category strategy execution

• Interpersonal skills:

  • Strong interpersonal and vendor management skills, as liaison could serve as a main point of contact for key national vendors

• Negotiation skills:

  • Track record of successfully shaping the procurement decision-making process in situations where there are competing objectives. Must have some negotiation experience and be comfortable representing the interests in interactions with vendors and other counter-parties

• Strong problem solving and analytical skills required to develop Category strategy, considering:

  • National demand forecasts

  • Contract development

  • Service level requirements

  • Vendor and industry dynamics

• Proficient in synthesizing apparently unrelated ideas to identify the optimal solution or to develop a coherent plan or vision.

Required Competencies

• Advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other MS Office applications

• Tools and processes will be in place to provide support; early support required from Business Liaison role to complete selection of tools